! 




Glass _ 

Book_ 

Copyright N°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



ECHOES 



ECHOES 



BY 



FORBES STRONG 



WITH 



Original Illustrations 



by 



A. J. SCHMIDT. 



MADE BY THE WERNER COMPANY, AKRON, OHIO. 



7<^ 






K 

X 
6 



Copyrighted 1910, 

BY 

FORBES STRONG 



©CI.A259861 



DEDICATION 

To My MOTHER: — Affectionately 
dedicated by The Author, 

Forbes Strong. 



INTRODUCTION 

This world is broad — too broad to span, 
Its mysteries are too deep for man. 
How dare one then presume to say, 
Their views are but the only way? 
But all can say, of creed or clan, 
They're aiming for the Spirit Ian'. 

The Author. 



ECHOES 



I 

Oh! memory: — Thou art divine; 
Amid the brain cells thou entwine, 
Bitter or sweet, inscriptions deep 
That seem to mock while victims weep. 
What thought has chiseled on the brain 
Thou calleth back in sad refrain. 



10 Echoes 



II 



There comes to me a name today 

Of one whose form is silent clay ; 

And as my thoughts fly far through 

space 
And with the unseen interlace, 
I feel her presence come so near — 
I listen with attentive ear 
To give her life-like vision chance 
To speak the words her bright eyes 

glance. 



Echoes 11 



III 

A mental picture oft doth bring 
Sweet reminiscence on the wing 
Of thought, — of loved ones gone from 

sight : 
Still fancy paints with strange delight 
Such life-like scenes, we feel inclined 
('Tis no delusion of the mind) 
To feel and touch the unseen hand 
Of one who dwells in fairyland. 



12 Echoes 

IV 

What is it that controls the will ; 

That guides o'er distance; speeds o'er 

hill; 
O'er mountain, ocean; rivals light; — 
Omniscient in its onward flight? 
In myst'ry's realm infinite thought 
Returns with vessels richly fraught; 
And in that state of dreamland deep 
I feel our loved ones vigil keep. 
In revelation, lessons teach 
To guide us, — yet in silent speech. 
Oh ! blessed state for scope to dream 
And visions of our loved ones gleam. 




o 



Echoes 13 



V 



One night a mighty presence came 
And breathed to me a sacred name. 
"Come stroll with me a little way, 
While slumb'ring here your form must 

stay, 
And I will show you wisdom's light 
To guide you safely day and night." — 
We strolled on mossy banks beside 
A running stream of crystal tide, 
Short space, when up the mountain steep 
She gained the top with single leap; 
With magic touch she placed me there 
And bade me stand with cautious care. 



14 



Echoes 



VI 

"To step from off this mount/' she cries, 
"Destruction at the bottom lies." 
Then swift as thought, on — on she 

sped; 
Like frightened fawn from me she fled : 
While on that mount I stood alone, 
And dismal were the night winds blown 
As if to send my feather weight 
To safety's realm or hades' gate 
Would only strengthen zephyr's pride; 
Their interest lent on neither side. 



Echoes 15 



VII 

In some extremely mystic way 
A rock, in mid-air, upward lay, 
While wand'ring breezes kissed its face 
Of stone, and rolled it on through space. 
That's death! I thought, it doth not 

spare 
E'en one, 'tis monarch of the air. 
I gazed in silence far through space 
When on a gilded hill I trace 
My guide. With ease she climbed the 

height, 

While from above shone rays of light. 



16 Echo e 3 



VIII 

A vision words cannot deride, 
With head poised slightly on one side. 
Symmetrical — her form and face 
Would those of Venus proudly grace. 
So gentle, yet with courtly mien, 
Smilingly bowed that phantom queen. 
While Angel hosts from every side 
In kindliness looked on with pride. 




** While Angel hosts from every side 
In kindliness looked on with pride." 



Echoes 17 

IX 

She charged: "The mount on which 

you stand 
"Is earth's domain and dang'rous land. 
"Keep at the top, if you descend 
"No helping hand can mortals lend. 
"If on your soul you make a mar, 
"Your efforts must erase the scar. 
"The Golden Rule is wisdom's light; 
"Keep it well trimmed and plain in 

sight. 
"Steer from that deep abyss — vain 

pride : 
'Tis deep and high, 'tis long and wide. 



18 Echoes 

IX (continued) 

"That rock, called death, that floats 

above 
"Is but the touch of purest love. 
"Nay! Nay! I cannot wait for thee; 
"I only brought thee here to see 
"The reed on which man leans is bent; 
"Profit thereby, 'tis int'rest meant; 
"And as the night gives place to morn, 
"This visitation do not scorn 
"And deem it but an idle dream, 
"For dreams are oft not what they seem. 
"Don't trust to the propitious rule. 
"Each casket must refine its jewel." 



Echoes 19 



X 



A fog now rises wide and high ; 
In vain to sight my guide I try ; 
But cloudy mists overspread my sight, 
Closing from view that golden light. 
And as I wander home alone, 
I marvel that I saw no throne ; 
Though gazing on angelic shore — 
The distance an eternal lore — 
No pearly gate, dividing line 
Through sacrament of bread and wine. 
But as the chrysalis, entranced, 
Shades brilliant hues, so light en- 
hanced : 
Transparent as the buoyant air 
Were deeds exposed to brazen glare. 



20 Echi 



XI 

Suddenly, consciousness supreme 

Shone clearly : — 'twas a lucid dream ; 

But it awakened inner sight 

To prize the worth of wisdom's light. 

Mythical it seems to thee — 

A revelation 'twas to me — 

Grandly revealing Infinite law 

Is self redemption; and I saw 

No cross celestial disc to mar 

Beyond the mist — "The Gate Ajar." 



Echoes 21 

WHO MADE GOD? 

Oh! what a mystifying thought 

That God Himself to this world 

brought : 
What did He make Himself of, pray? 
Surely it was of different clay 
From that He used for Adam or Eve, 
For into them He had to breathe. 
Now, who for Him prepared the way? 
The Christian folk, "the wind," would 

say. 
But this confuses us, you know — 
What made the gentle zephyrs blow? 



22 Echoes 

Just gaze upon the nothing plan, — 
And from it came this perfect Man, 
So full of wisdom, love and light, 
He made the depth, the wondrous 

height ; 
He made the sun and moon to shine ; 
He made the stars, all things divine ; 
He made the night, also the day ; 
He made the dashing, foaming spray. 
And Scripture says, He made each 

thing : 
Now, what unto Himself could bring 
The breath of life? The nothing plan 
Could not produce the perfect Man. 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Oct. 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



LIBRARY OF CONFESS 











